Sports Envoy Program Continues in 2012 with Series of Trips in Spring

Programs Are Scheduled from February to April in Five Countries

Feb 17, 2012

CHICAGO (Feb. 17, 2012) – The Sports Envoy program will continue in 2012, with a series of trips planned in the spring. U.S. Soccer, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, will hold Sports Envoys from February to April in Malaysia, Algeria, Argentina, Venezuela and Morocco.

The Sports Envoy program is part of SportsUnited’s Empowering Women and Girls through Sport Initiative. Research has shown a strong connection between girls’ participation in sports and pursuing a higher level of education, which then leads to more women in leadership roles. Through the international program, U.S. Soccer seeks to promote sports and spark dialogue with children from around the world.

Former U.S. National Team players, coaches and administrators travel on the Sports Envoy trips to conduct soccer clinics for youth players, with a special focus on reaching out to girls, as well as clinics and discussions for coaches and administrators.

The first Sports Envoy of the year will be in February, when defenders Danielle Slaton and Tony Sanneh head to Malaysia, with former WNT General Manager Cheryl Bailey joining as the first Sports Administrator to focus on girls’ sports program administration.

WNT defenders Kate Markgraf and Linda Hamilton will travel to Algeria in March. In the same month, defender Amanda Cromwell and former WNT coach Lauren Gregg will conduct an Envoy in Argentina, while goalkeeper Siri Mullinix and defender Lorrie Fair go to Venezuela.

U.S. Soccer has been involved with Sports Envoy since 2006 and has sent former players and coaches to countries across South America, Asia and Africa. Cromwell, Fair, Hamilton, Sanneh and Slaton have all participated in the program on past trips.